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The Ouray School District is eyeing a slate of capital projects to improve safety and prolong the lifespan of the 54-year-old gymnasium, including new...

June 28, 2023

News

School leaders ready for universal preschool

It’s only been a few weeks since the school year ended and summer break began, but school leaders in Ridgway and Ouray already have their eye on the c...

June 28, 2023

Spotlight on the Arts: Cara Fandel

Cara Fandel spent 32 years viewing the world through her camera lens before she turned to a different kind of art. Though she enjoyed work as a profes...

June 14, 2023

Spotlight on the Arts: Kellie Day

You can spot a piece of Kellie Day’s artwork long before you’re close enough to the canvas to see her signature. Soft pastel shades and vibrant jewel ...

May 31, 2023

New shelter director sees chances to grow

Second Chance Humane Society’s Board of Directors has hired new Executive Director Nick Gilman on a nine-month contract, with board leadership describ...

May 24, 2023

Spotlight on the Arts: Lisa Issenberg

Lisa Issenberg is in the business of taking a significant moment in a person’s life and crafting it into a memory they can hold in their hands. Out of...

May 3, 2023

News

School renovation nears finish line

Renovations at Ridgway Elementary School are on track to wrap up in the next few months, with the last of the major work scheduled to start when stude...

May 3, 2023

Roofing company rehangs shingle in Ridgway

After 25 years of working on roofing, restoration and construction projects in Ouray County and beyond, Dave Manes decided it was time to reopen an of...

April 26, 2023

Spotlight on the Arts: Erin Cawley

No matter where she lands in life, Ouray County Performing Arts Guild Executive Director Erin Cawley seems to find her way to the stage. Cawley has de...

April 26, 2023

New fitness studio wants you to shape up

[tecnavia_gallery slug='new-fitness-studio-wants-you-to-shape-up-gallery-20230503-2306-151356' view='carousel']From aerobics to Zumba, Ouray resident ...

March 30, 2023

Main, News...

Ridgway sues MTN Lodge

Town seeks payment of sales, lodging taxes; hotel calls lawsuit 'misguided'

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

The town of Ridgway is suing the owners of MTN Lodge over their plans to use the hotel as workforce housing for the next several years, aiming to suspend operations and demanding they pay lodging and ...

Main, News...

Board rebukes commissioner

Niece, Nauer censure Padgett for secretly recording closed-door meeting

By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

Two Ouray County commissioners publicly reprimanded their fellow commissioner after discovering she secretly recorded an executive session last week. Portions of the audio from that executive session ...

Main, News...

Proposed merger could make fire chief highest paid official

Latest draft bases members' voting power on financial contributions

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

The current proposal to combine fire and emergency medical services entities in Ouray County could eventually make the new fire chief the highest-paid public official in the county and may base partic...

News

Jury convicts mother in retaliation case

By Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins erin@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

A jury has convicted a former Ouray woman of retaliating against another woman who accused her son of sexual assault in 2023. Jurors deliberated for about an hour on March 26 before finding Kristyn Tr...

News

EMS moves overnight quarters with help from chamber grant

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

April 1, 2026

Ouray County Emergency Medical Services is moving its sleeping quarters for on-call staff in Ouray into the former Public Health office location, with donations providing rent assistance. An EMT will ...

Katie Langford

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines